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“I want you to chase me.”

The look he gives me nearly changes my mind for an entirely different reason.

Jesus Christ.

He steps backward.

“How long do I get?”

His smile makes my pulse jump. “Thirty seconds.”

I stare at him.

“That's it?”

He smirks. “One minute.”

Fuck.

“Cocky bastard.”

“Fifty-nine.”

My mouth drops open. “You started already?”

“Fifty-eight.”

“Hades!”

“Fifty-seven.”

I turn and look at the woods. There’s a smaller, rockier trail in the distance.

“Fifty-five.”

“Oh, fuck you.”

“That's the plan.”

My entire body ignites. “HADES.”

“Fifty-three.”

I run.

His laughter follows me into the trees.

For the first few seconds, this is hilarious. Freeing.

I follow the smaller trail, the leaves rustling beneath my boots. I nearly slip on a large pile of them and grab a tree for balance.

I push farther into the woods, my lungs already burning.

Be quiet.

But it’s hard.

I’m not used to running, let alone doing it on uneven terrain.